Door Lock

ABSTRACT

The present application provides a door lock, comprising a main sliding block, the main sliding block being able to move to and fro between a locked position and a released position along a first direction (length direction), and the main sliding block being able to lock the door lock when at the locked position, and the main sliding block being able to release the door lock when at the released position; and an induction sliding block, the induction sliding block being able to move to and fro between a closed position and an open position along the first direction (length direction) when the main sliding block moves to and fro between the locked position and the released position along the first direction (length direction), wherein the closed position and the open position of the induction sliding block are used for indicating whether the door lock is in a locked state or in a released state. The door lock of the present application can make the output state of a door lock state indicating apparatus stable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application refers to a door lock for electrical equipment(e.g. washing machines, dish-washing machines).

BACKGROUND ART

Door locks can be used to control locking or opening of doors ofelectrical equipment (e.g. washing machines, dish-washing machines).

The present application provides a novel door lock mechanism to improvethe operation of electrical equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To improve the operation of electrical equipment, the presentapplication provides a door lock for use in an electric appliance.

A first aspect of the present application seeks to protect a door lock,the door lock comprising:

a main sliding block, the main sliding block being able to move to andfro between a locked position and a released position along a firstdirection (length direction), and the main sliding block being able tolock the door lock when at the locked position, and the main slidingblock being able to release the door lock when at the released position;and an induction sliding block, the induction sliding block being ableto move to and fro between a closed position and an open position alongthe first direction (length direction) when the main sliding block movesto and fro between the locked position and the released position alongthe first direction (length direction), wherein the closed position andthe open position of the induction sliding block are used for indicatingwhether the door lock is in a locked state or in a released state.

The door lock according to the first aspect of the present applicationfurther comprises an indicating apparatus, the indicating apparatusbeing able to output an indicating signal according to the closedposition and the open position of the induction sliding block, and theindicating signal being used for indicating whether the door lock is inthe locked state or in the released state.

According to the door lock in the first aspect of the presentapplication, the induction sliding block is able to move to and frobetween the closed position and the open position along the firstdirection (length direction); the induction sliding block is able tomove from the open position to the closed position when the main slidingblock moves from the released position to the locked position; and theinduction sliding block is able to move from the closed position to theopen position when the main sliding block moves from the locked positionto the released position.

The door lock according to the first aspect of the present applicationfurther comprises an induction latch, the induction latch being able toaccordingly move to and fro along a second direction (up-down direction)when the induction sliding block moves to and fro along the firstdirection (length direction); and the induction latch being used forstarting the indicating apparatus so that the indicating apparatusoutputs the indicating signal.

According to the door lock in the first aspect of the presentapplication, the induction sliding block is arranged at one side of themain sliding block, and the main sliding block brings the inductionsliding block to move from the closed position to the open position.

According to the door lock in the first aspect of the presentapplication, a push arm is provided at one side of the main slidingblock, and the push arm is able to bring the induction sliding block tomove from the closed position to the open position.

According to the door lock in the first aspect of the presentapplication, the door lock further comprises a biasing apparatus, andthe biasing apparatus pushes the induction sliding block to move fromthe open position to the closed position.

According to the door lock in the first aspect of the presentapplication, the biasing apparatus is a spring.

According to the door lock in the first aspect of the presentapplication, the induction sliding block comprises a stepped part, andthe stepped part comprises an upper step and a lower step that arearranged by way of connection; a bearing surface and a recess areprovided on the upper step, the bearing surface is arranged at a distalend of the upper step, the bearing surface is higher than the recess, adistal end of the recess is connected to the bearing surface, and aninduction sliding block restoration part is provided at an outer sideface at a proximal end of the recess; an induction sliding block releasepart is provided on an upper surface at a distal end of the lower step,a blocking surface is provided at a proximal end of the lower step, andthe blocking surface is used for blocking the movement of the mainsliding block when the main sliding block moves from the locked positionto the released position; and the induction sliding block protrusionlocking claw extends out of an outer side face at the distal end of thelower step.

According to the door lock in the first aspect of the presentapplication, the induction sliding block restoration part comprises arestoration bevel, and the restoration bevel tilts inward in a directionfrom the distal end of the upper step to the proximal end; and theinduction sliding block release part comprises a rotation bevel, and therotation bevel tilts outward in a direction from the proximal end of thelower step to the distal end.

The door lock according to the first aspect of the present applicationfurther comprises a door lock box, the door lock box comprising aninduction sliding block sliding chute, and the induction sliding blocksliding chute comprising an inside wall and an outside wall; a notchprovided at a distal end of the inside wall, for accommodating theinduction sliding block protrusion locking claw, wherein a blockingsurface is provided at a distal end of the notch, and the blockingsurface is used for blocking the movement of the induction sliding blockwhen the main sliding block moves from the released position to thelocked position along the first direction; and an induction slidingblock recovery bevel provided at a proximal end of the outside wall, forcooperating with the induction sliding block restoration part to restorethe induction sliding block.

The door lock according to the first aspect of the present applicationcan make the output state of a door lock state indicating apparatusstable.

A second aspect of the present application seeks to protect a door lock,the door lock comprising: a main sliding block, the main sliding blockbeing able to move to and fro between a locked position and a releasedposition along a first direction (length direction), and the mainsliding block being able to lock the door lock when at the lockedposition, and the main sliding block being able to release the door lockwhen at the released position; an induction sliding block, the inductionsliding block being able to move to and fro along the first direction(length direction) when the main sliding block moves to and fro betweenthe locked position and the released position along the first direction(length direction); an induction latch, the induction latch being ableto move to and fro on an upper surface of the induction sliding block,and the induction latch being able to accordingly move to and fro alonga second direction (up-down direction) when the induction sliding blockmoves to and fro along the first direction (length direction); and aswitching apparatus, the induction latch being able to close ordisconnect the switching apparatus.

According to the door lock in the second aspect of the presentapplication, the induction sliding block is arranged at one side of themain sliding block, and the main sliding block brings the inductionsliding block to move from a closed position to an open position.

According to the door lock in the second aspect of the presentapplication, a push arm is provided at one side of the main slidingblock, and the push arm is able to bring the induction sliding block tomove from the closed position to the open position.

According to the door lock in the second aspect of the presentapplication, the door lock further comprises a biasing apparatus, andthe biasing apparatus pushes the induction sliding block to move fromthe open position to the closed position.

According to the door lock in the second aspect of the presentapplication, the biasing apparatus is a spring.

According to the door lock in the second aspect of the presentapplication, the induction sliding block comprises a stepped part, andthe stepped part comprises an upper step and a lower step that arearranged by way of connection; a bearing surface and a recess areprovided on the upper step, the bearing surface is arranged at a distalend of the upper step, the bearing surface is higher than the recess, adistal end of the recess is connected to the bearing surface, and aninduction sliding block restoration part is provided at an outer sideface at a proximal end of the recess; an induction sliding block releasepart is provided on an upper surface at a distal end of the lower step,a blocking surface is provided at a proximal end of the lower step, andthe blocking surface is used for blocking the movement of the mainsliding block when the main sliding block moves from the locked positionto the released position; and the induction sliding block protrusionlocking claw extends out of an outer side face at the distal end of thelower step.

According to the door lock in the second aspect of the presentapplication, the induction sliding block restoration part comprises arestoration bevel, and the restoration bevel tilts inward in a directionfrom the distal end of the upper step to the proximal end; and

the induction sliding block release part comprises a rotation bevel, andthe rotation bevel tilts outward in a direction from the proximal end ofthe lower step to the distal end.

The door lock according to the second aspect of the present applicationfurther comprises a door lock box, the door lock box comprising aninduction sliding block sliding chute, and the induction sliding blocksliding chute comprising an inside wall and an outside wall; a notchprovided at a distal end of the inside wall, for accommodating theinduction sliding block protrusion locking claw, wherein a blockingsurface is provided at a distal end of the notch, and the blockingsurface is used for blocking the movement of the induction sliding blockwhen the main sliding block moves from the released position to thelocked position along the first direction; and an induction slidingblock recovery bevel provided at a proximal end of the outside wall, forcooperating with the induction sliding block restoration part to restorethe induction sliding block.

According to the door lock in the second aspect of the presentapplication, the induction latch can be steadily in a closed position oran open position, and it is an instantaneous jump process when theinduction latch move from the disconnected position to the closedposition or from the closed position to the disconnected position,avoiding the state of semi-linkage or bad contact when a movable contactand a stationary contact are in contact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a door lock100 in the present application shown from its front side, with somecomponents of the door lock 100 shown by way of an explosive view;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the door lock100 in the present application shown from its back side;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the door lock 100 inFIG. 1A after a top cover 117 is cut off and an actuator 103 is takenaway;

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are respectively a structural stereogram and a planview of an induction sliding block 300 of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of the interior structure of a door lockbox 110 in FIG. 2 with all components in the door lock box 110 removed;

FIG. 4B is a partial enlarged drawing of the part 403 in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a stereoscopic schematic diagram showing the installation ofa main sliding block 204 and an induction sliding block 300 in the doorlock box 110;

FIG. 5B is a schematic plan showing the installation of the main slidingblock 204 and the induction sliding block 300 in the door lock box 110;

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are an assembly stereogram and an assembly explosiveview of the main sliding block 204 and the induction sliding block 300;

FIG. 6C and FIG. 6D are an assembly stereogram and an assembly explosiveview of the main sliding block 204 and the induction sliding block 300shown from the back sides thereof;

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are schematic structural diagrams of the componentslocated above the induction sliding block 300 in the induction slidingblock sliding chute 402 in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B;

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8G are operational process drawings about thecooperation of relevant components in the door lock 100 of the presentapplication; and

FIG. 9 is an embodiment of an indicating circuit 706 shown in FIG. 7Aand FIG. 7B, to show the structure details of the indicating circuit706.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various specific implementation manners of the present application willbe described below with reference to the accompanying drawings thatconstitute a part of this specification. It should be understood thatalthough terms for denoting directions, such as “front”, “back’, “up”,“down”, “left”, “right”, “head”, “tail”, “proximal end”, “distal end”,are used in the present application to describe various exemplarystructure parts and components of the present application, these termsare used here only for the purpose of convenient illustration and aredetermined based on the exemplary orientation shown in the accompanyingdrawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in the present application canbe set in different directions, these terms that denote directions serveonly as illustration and should not be regarded as restriction. Wherepossible, same or similar figure labels used in the present applicationrefer to the same components.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a door lock100 in the present application observed from its front side, with somecomponents of the door lock 100 shown by way of an explosive view. FIG.1B is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the door lock 100in the present application observed from its back side.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the door lock 100 includes a door lock box 110, atop cover 117 is provided at the upper part of the door lock box 110,and a door lockhole 112 is set above the head of the top cover 117 foraccommodating a door hook 101. The door hook 101 is located above thedoor lockhole 112, and when the door hook 101 inserts, from the doorlockhole 112 above the door lock box 110, into the door lock 100 andhooks a cam 201 (see FIG. 2) inside the door lock 100, and when the cam201 is locked, the door of the electric appliance is accordingly in aposition that can be locked.

In FIG. 1A, the door lock 100 further includes an actuating component103 and a switch box 105. A bottom surface 119 is provided below thehead of the top cover 117 of the door lock 100, an accommodating cavity115 is formed between the top cover 117 and the bottom surface 119, andthe actuating component 103 is accommodated in the accommodating cavity115. The actuating component 103 is an electromagnetic drive part, inwhich a coil 121 and an iron core 122 as well as a contact probe 123 atthe front end are provided. After the actuating component 103 receives astarting signal, the coil 121 is powered on, and the coil 121 producesan electromagnetic pushing force to the iron core 122 to push out thecontact probe 123, and after the power is off, the contact probe 123 isretracted. The switch box 105 is mounted below the tail of the top cover117. The function of the actuating component 103 is to actuate relevantcomponents in the door lock 100, while the function of the switch box105 includes locking or releasing the main sliding block 204 andconnecting or disconnecting the main circuit that controls the door lock100.

As shown in FIG. 1B, a chassis 114 is provided below the head of the topcover 117, while the switch box 105 is provided below the tail of thetop cover 117, and the chassis 114 and the switch box 105 are arrangednext to each other in the width direction of the door lock box 110 onthe surface below the top cover 117.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the door lock 100 inFIG. 1A after the top cover 117 is cut off and the actuating component103 is taken away, for more particularly showing the components in thechassis 114, the switch box 105 and the main sliding block 204, and therelationship among the chassis 114, the switch box 105 and the mainsliding block 204.

In FIG. 2, the chassis 114 and the switch box 105 are arranged side byside in the width direction of the door lock box 110 on the surfacebelow the top cover 117. The main sliding block 204 is arranged betweenthe top cover 117 and the switch box 105 and stretches across thechassis 114 and the switch box 105 in the width direction of the doorlock box 110, and the left end (distal end) of the main sliding block204 can cover the part above the chassis 114. A lockhole 219 is providedon the main sliding block 204, and when the main sliding block 204 is atthe locked position and a locking dog (not shown) in the switch box 105extends out of the lockhole 219, the main sliding block 204 is locked,and thus the electric door is also locked.

As shown in FIG. 2, a cam 201 is provided on the chassis 114, the cam201 is arranged below the door hook 101, the main body of the cam 201 isof a crescent curved structure and is provided with an open slot 202 ofcircular arc shape, and an upper end of the open slot 202 is a hook 205.After being inserted in the door lockhole 112 (see FIG. 1), the doorhook 101 pushes the cam 201 to rotate, and the rotation of the cam 201makes the hook 205 insert in the hole 102 of the door hook 101 and hookthe door hook 101. A lower end 206 of the open slot 202 contacts thefront end of the door hook 101, and when the door hook 101 is inserted,the front end of the door hook 101 presses against the lower end 206 ofthe open slot 202, so as to push the cam 201 to rotate anticlockwise.

The cam 201 is fixated on the chassis 114 via circular shafts 212 and214 at two sides, such that the cam 201 is enabled to rotate around thecircular shafts 212 and 214. The torsional spring includes torsionalsprings 210.1 and 210.2, the torsional springs 210.1 and 210.2respectively sleeve the circular shafts 212 and 214, and the torsionalsprings 210.1 and 210.2 provide a torsion for resetting the cam 201.When the door hook 101 is pulled out from the cam 201, the torsionalsprings 210.1 and 210.2 bring the cam 201 to rotate clockwise. A camlatch 211 is also provided at two sides of the tail end of the cam 201,and the cam latch 211 abuts against the left end (distal end) of themain sliding block 204. Meanwhile, the torsional springs 210.1 and 210.2provide a biasing force for opening the door, that is, when the cam 201and the main sliding block 204 are at the released position, thetorsional spring 210 ejects the door hook 101 out of the cam 201.

FIG. 2 shows the front end of the main sliding block 204, a reset spring213 is provided at the right end (proximal end) of the main slidingblock 204, the torsion of the torsional springs 210.1 and 210.2 on thecam 201 is greater than the elastic force of the reset spring 213 on themain sliding block 204, and therefore, when the cam 201 rotatesclockwise, the cam 201 is able to push the main sliding block 204 tomove from the locked position to the released position. Due to themutual effect of the reset spring 213 and the torsional springs 210.1and 210.2, when the cam 201 rotates, the main sliding block 204 moves toand fro along with it. Particularly, the reset spring 213 provides apretightening force for the main sliding block 204 to abut against thecam latch 211 on the cam 201, while the torsional springs 210.1 and210.2 provide a pushing force for the cam 201 to rotate clockwise. Dueto the mutual effect of the torsional springs 210.1 and 210.2 and thereset spring 213, when the cam 201 rotates clockwise and anticlockwise,the contact between the back end of the cam 201 and the main slidingblock 204 makes the main sliding block 204 produce correspondingreciprocating movement. More particularly, when the door hook 101 isinserted in the cam 201, the cam 201 rotates anticlockwise, and underthe action of the reset spring 213, the main sliding block 204 movesfrom the released position thereof to the locked position thereof(moving to the left); and when the door hook 101 is pulled out of thecam 201, the cam 201 rotates clockwise, the cam latch 211 on the cam 201pushes the main sliding block 204 to overcome the acting force of thereset spring 213, and the main sliding block 204 moves from the lockedposition thereof to the released position thereof (moving to the right).

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are respectively a structural stereogram and a planview of an induction sliding block 300 of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the induction sliding block 300 isapproximately a rectangular structure and can be divided into a distalend (left end) part 301 and a proximal end (right end) part 302. Thedistal end of the induction sliding block 300 is in a stepped form, witha first side (outer side) of the distal end part 301 being an upper step303 and a second side (inner side) of the distal end part 301 being alower step 304.

A bearing surface 342 and a recess 328 are provided on the upper step303, the bearing surface 342 is arranged at a distal end (left end) part352 of the upper step 303, the bearing surface 342 is higher than therecess 328, the distal end (left end) of the recess 328 is connected tothe bearing surface 342, an induction sliding block restoration part 327is provided on the outer side face at the proximal end (right end) ofthe recess 328, the induction sliding block restoration part 327includes a restoration bevel 370, and the restoration bevel 370 tiltsinward toward the proximal end direction of the recess 328. An inductionsliding block release part 323 is provided at a distal end (left end) ofthe upper surface 325 of the lower step 304, the induction sliding blockrelease part 323 includes a rotation bevel 324, and the rotation bevel324 tilts outward toward the distal end of the recess; and the innerside face 353 of the distal end part 352 of the upper step 303 isconnected to the induction sliding block release part 323, and theinduction sliding block release part 323 protrudes at the inner sideface 353. A blocking surface 326 is provided at the proximal end of thelower step 304, and the blocking surface 326 is used so that the mainsliding block 204 can bring the induction sliding block 300 to move whenthe main sliding block 204 moves from the locked position to thereleased position. An induction sliding block protrusion locking claw355 extends out of an outer side face at the distal end (left end) ofthe lower step 304. A through-hole 331 and a registration mast 337 areprovided at the tail on the proximal end (right end) part 302 of theinduction sliding block 300, for mounting a biasing apparatus 336 (e.g.a spring) on the induction sliding block 300.

In addition, FIG. 3A also shows an induction latch 360. The inductionlatch 360 has a tail 361, a head 362 and a shoulder 363. The head 362 ofthe induction latch 360 is slidably supported on the bearing surface 342of the upper step 303 and on the surface 380 of the recess 328, and theinduction latch 360 cannot move along the length direction (firstdirection, i.e. the direction shown by arrow 350) of the inductionsliding block 300, but the relative movement between the induction latch360 and the induction sliding block 300 can enable the induction latch360 to move up and down along the direction (second direction) shown byarrow 351, where the second direction and the first direction areperpendicular to each other. When the induction latch 360 is located inthe recess 328 (closed position), the tail 361 of the induction latch360 can close the switching apparatus in the door lock 100 (see FIG.7A); and when the induction latch 360 is located on the bearing surface342 (disconnected position), the tail 361 of the induction latch 360 candisconnect the switching apparatus in the door lock 100 (see FIG. 7B).

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of the interior structure of a door lockbox 110 in FIG. 2 with all components in the door lock box 110 removed.As shown in FIG. 4A, the door lock box 110 includes an induction slidingblock sliding chute 402 and a main sliding block sliding chute 404. Theinduction sliding block sliding chute 402 has an outside wall 412 and aninside wall 414, and the main sliding block sliding chute 404 has anoutside wall 414 (a wall that is shared with the inside wall 414 of theinduction sliding block sliding chute 402) and an outside wall 416. Agroove 413 is provided at the distal end part of the outside wall 412 ofthe induction sliding block sliding chute 402, and a groove 415 isprovided at the distal end part of the inside wall 414 of the inductionsliding block sliding chute 402. The induction sliding block slidingchute 402 is used for accommodating the induction sliding block 300,while the main sliding block sliding chute 404 is used for accommodatingthe main sliding block 204. The door lock box 110 further includes asupport frame 418, to facilitate the support of the induction latch 360while the induction latch 360 slides.

FIG. 4B is a partial enlarged drawing of the part 403 in FIG. 4A, forshowing the structure of the induction sliding block sliding chute 402more clearly. As shown in FIG. 4B, a groove 413 is provided at thedistal end part of the outside wall 412 of the induction sliding blocksliding chute 402, and a groove 415 is provided at the distal end partof the inside wall 414 of the induction sliding block sliding chute 402.An induction sliding block recovery bevel 437 is provided below theinner side face at the distal end of the groove 413 on the outside wall412, and the induction sliding block recovery bevel 437 tilts outward inthe proximal end (right end) direction of the groove 415. A notch 422 isprovided below the outer side face at the distal end part (left side) ofthe groove 415 on the inside wall 414, and a blocking surface 423 isprovided at the distal end part (left end part) of the notch 422.

FIG. 5A is a stereoscopic schematic diagram showing the installation ofa main sliding block 204 and an induction sliding block 300 in the doorlock box 110. FIG. 5B is a schematic plan showing the installation ofthe main sliding block 204 and the induction sliding block 300 in thedoor lock box 110. As shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the inductionsliding block 300 is mounted in the induction sliding block slidingchute 402, and the induction sliding block 300 can slide to and fro inthe induction sliding block sliding chute 402; while the main slidingblock 204 is mounted in the main sliding block sliding chute 404, andthe main sliding block 204 can slide to and fro in the main slidingblock sliding chute 404. A push arm 502 is provided at the side face ofthe main sliding block 204, and the push arm 502 is slidably placed onthe upper surface 325 of the lower step 304 in the induction slidingblock 300, for bringing the induction sliding block 300 to move when themain sliding block 204 moves from the locked position to the releasedposition thereof. The head 362 of the induction latch 360 is slidablyarranged above the induction sliding block 300, to enable the inductionsliding block 300 to steadily move to and fro in the length direction(first direction, i.e. the direction shown by arrow 350) of theinduction sliding block 300.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are an assembly stereogram and an assembly explosiveview of the main sliding block 204 and the induction sliding block 300,in which FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are the assembly stereogram and theassembly explosive view of the main sliding block 204 and the inductionsliding block 300 shown from the front sides thereof; and FIG. 6C andFIG. 6D are the assembly stereogram and the assembly explosive view ofthe main sliding block 204 and the induction sliding block 300 shownfrom the back sides thereof, for more clearly showing the cooperativerelationship between the main sliding block 204 and the inductionsliding block 300 and the shape details of the push arm 502. As shown inFIG. 6A to FIG. 6D, the push arm 502 has a side part 603 and a flatbottom 605. When the main sliding block 204 moves from the lockedposition to the released position along the length direction (firstdirection, i.e. the direction shown by arrow 350) thereof, the side part603 thereof presses against the blocking surface 326 of the inductionsliding block 300, so as to bring the induction sliding block 300 tomove from the closed position to the open position along the lengthdirection (first direction) thereof. When the main sliding block 204moves from the released position to the locked position along the lengthdirection (first direction) thereof, the biasing force from the spring336 moves the induction sliding block 300 from the open position to theclosed position.

Referring to FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D, when the push arm 502 of the mainsliding block 204 moves from the released position to the lockedposition and passes by the rotation bevel 324 of the induction slidingblock 300, a component force produced on the rotation bevel 324 willrotate the induction sliding block 300 by an angle (e.g. 2.0-2.5degrees), so that an included angle (see FIG. 8C and FIG. 8D) is formedbetween the induction sliding block 300 and the length direction (firstdirection) of the main sliding block 204. When the push arm 502 movesfrom the locked position to the released position, and when therestoration bevel 370 on the induction sliding block 300 passes by theinduction sliding block recovery bevel 437 on the induction slidingblock sliding chute 402, the component force produced as a result of themutual effect of the two bevels will rotate the induction sliding bevel300 by an angle to the opposite direction (rotate reversely by 2.0-2.5degrees), so that the induction sliding block 300 returns to theposition parallel to the length direction (first direction) of the mainsliding block 204 (see FIG. 8F and FIG. 8G).

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show the components located above the inductionsliding block 300 in the induction sliding block sliding chute 402 inFIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, for showing how the induction latch 360 closes anddisconnects the switching apparatus. As shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B,the switching apparatus includes a movable spring piece 702, a movablecontact 703 arranged on the movable spring piece 702 and a fixedconductor rod 704. As shown in FIG. 7A, after the induction latch 360moves downward for a certain distance, the tail 361 of the inductionlatch 360 leaves the movable spring piece 702, so that the movablecontact 703 contacts the fixed conductor rod 704 to connect the powercircuit. As shown in FIG. 7B, after the induction latch 360 moves upwardfor a certain distance, the tail 361 of the induction latch 360 props upthe movable spring piece 702, so that the movable contact 703 leaves thefixed conductor rod 704 to disconnect the power circuit.

As shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the input 705 of the indicatingapparatus 706 is electrically connected to the fixed conductor rod 704,and when the power circuit is connected, the indicating apparatus 706outputs a first state signal (e.g. high level or low level), indicatingthat the door lock 100 is in the locked state; and when the powercircuit is disconnected, the indicating apparatus 706 outputs a secondstate signal (e.g. low level or high level), indicating that the doorlock 100 is in the released state.

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8G show operational process drawings about thecooperation of relevant components in the door lock 100 of the presentapplication. Here, FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D show the process in which the doorlock 100 is from the open state to the closed state; and FIG. 8E to FIG.8G show the process in which the door lock 100 is from the closed stateto the open state.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the door lock 100 is in the open state at thistime. The main sliding block 204 is in the leftmost position (i.e.released position), and the side part 603 of the push arm 502 on themain sliding block 204 presses against the blocking surface 326.Previously, in the process where the door hook 101 is pulled out of thecam 201, the push arm 502 pushes the induction sliding block 300 to movethe compression spring 336 to the left side to store the elasticpotential energy, and pushes the induction sliding block 300 to theleftmost end. At this time, the induction sliding block 300 is blockedby the main sliding block 204 at the leftmost side and is unable tomove. The head 362 of the induction latch 360 is on the bearing surface342 of the induction sliding block 300, and the tail 361 of theinduction latch 360 props up the movable spring piece 702, so that themovable contact 703 leaves the fixed conductor rod 704 and disconnectsthe power circuit, and thus the indicating apparatus 706 outputs asecond state signal (low level or high level). At this time, the mainsliding block 204 is at the released position, the induction slidingblock 300 is at the open position, and the door lock 100 is in the openstate.

As shown in FIG. 8B, as the door hook 101 enters the cam 201, the doorlock 100 starts to close. The main sliding block 204 moves from thereleased position thereof to the locked position at the right side. Theelastic force of the spring 336 helps the induction sliding block 300move to the right with the main sliding block 300, until the inductionsliding block protrusion locking claw 355 is blocked by the blockingsurface 423 in the induction sliding block sliding chute 402, and atthis time the induction sliding block 300 is temporarily unable to move.At this time, the head 362 of the induction latch 360 is still on thebearing surface 342 of the induction sliding block 300, and the tail 361of the induction latch 360 props up the movable spring piece 702, sothat the movable contact 703 leaves the fixed conductor rod 704 anddisconnects the power circuit, and thus the indicating apparatus 706keeps the second state signal. At this time, the main sliding block 204leaves the released position thereof and moves to the locked position,but the induction sliding block 300 is still at the open position.

As shown in FIG. 8C, the main sliding block 204 continues to move to theright side, and the right side of the push arm 502 contacts the rotationbevel 324 on the induction sliding block 300. The continuous movement ofthe push arm 502 will produce a component force that pushes theinduction sliding block 300 to move downward, pushing the distal end(right end) of the induction sliding block 300 to rotate downward. Atthis time, the induction sliding block protrusion locking claw 355 onthe induction sliding block 300 is still blocked by the blocking surface423 in the induction sliding block sliding chute 402, and therefore theinduction sliding block 300 is still unable to move. At this time, thehead 362 of the induction latch 360 is still on the bearing surface 342of the induction sliding block 300, and the tail 361 of the inductionlatch 360 props up the movable spring piece 702, so that the movablecontact leaves the fixed conductor rod 704 and disconnects the powercircuit, and thus the indicating apparatus 706 keeps the second statesignal. At this time, the main sliding block 204 moves to the lockedposition, and the induction sliding block 300 is still at the openposition.

As shown in FIG. 8D, the main sliding block 204 continues to move to theright side, and the right side of the push arm 502 passes by the middleor top of the rotation bevel 324 on the induction sliding block 300. Thepush arm 502 pushes the distal end (right end) of induction slidingblock 300 to continue to rotate downward. When the distal end of theinduction sliding block 502 rotates downward by a certain angle (e.g.2.0-2.5 degrees), the induction sliding block protrusion locking claw355 is pushed out of the notch 422. At this time, the induction slidingblock 300 is able to move because it is no longer blocked by theblocking surface 423 in the induction sliding block sliding chute 402,and the elastic force of the spring 336 instantaneously ejects theinduction sliding block 300 to the end of the distal end (right end) ofthe induction sliding block sliding chute 402. At the same time, theinduction latch 360 instantaneously moves from the bearing surface 342to the recess 328, and the tail 361 of the induction latch 360 movesdown instantaneously, leaves the movable spring piece 702, and causesthe movable contact 703 to contact the fixed conductor rod 704 to closethe power circuit instantaneously, so that the second state signaloutput by the indicating apparatus 706 changes to the first statesignal. At this time, the main sliding block 204 is at the lockedposition, the induction sliding block 300 is at the closed position, andthe door lock 100 is in the closed state.

As shown in FIG. 8E, the door hook 101 starts to be pulled out of thecam 201, the door lock 100 starts to open, the main sliding block 204moves to the left side from the locked position thereof, and the sidepart 603 of the push arm 502 pushes the blocking surface 326, brings theinduction sliding block 300 to move to the left side, and compresses thespring 336 to the left to store the elastic potential energy. Since thehead 362 of the induction latch 360 is still in the recess 328 of theinduction sliding block 300 and the tail 361 of the induction latch 360does not contact the movable spring piece 702, the movable contact 703contacts the fixed conductor rod 704 and closes the power circuit, sothat the indicating apparatus 706 outputs and keeps the first statesignal. At this time, the main sliding block 204 moves from the lockedposition thereof to the released position, but the induction slidingblock 300 is still at the closed position.

As shown in FIG. 8F, the main sliding block 204 continues to compressthe spring 336 to move to the left side, and the restoration bevel 370on the induction sliding block 300 and the induction sliding blockrecovery bevel 437 on the induction sliding block sliding chute 402start to contact and produce a force to push the induction sliding block300 to deflect upward, so that the induction sliding block 300 starts torotate upward, and the induction sliding block protrusion locking claw355 on the induction sliding block 300 gradually enters the notch 422 ofthe induction sliding block sliding chute 402. Since the head 362 of theinduction latch 360 moves to the bearing surface 342 of the inductionsliding block 300, the induction latch 360 moves upward, the tail 361 ofthe induction latch 360 props up the movable spring piece 702, and themovable contact 703 leaves the fixed conductor rod 704 and disconnectsthe power circuit, so that the first state signal output by theindicating apparatus 706 changes to the second state signal. At thistime, the main sliding block 204 moves from the locked position thereofto the released position, and the induction sliding block 300 is at theopen position.

As shown in FIG. 8G, the main sliding block 204 continues to move to theleft side to further compress the spring 336. The restoration bevel 370on the induction sliding block 300 passes by the middle or top of theinduction sliding block recovery bevel 437 on the induction slidingblock sliding chute 402, so that the induction sliding block 300 startsto rotate upward. When the induction sliding block 300 moves upward by acertain angle (2.0-2.5 degrees), the induction sliding block 300restores to the position parallel to the main sliding block 204, and theinduction sliding block protrusion locking claw 355 on the inductionsliding block 300 enters the notch 422 of the induction sliding blocksliding chute 402. Since the head 362 of the induction latch 360 movesto the middle (or close to the middle) above the bearing surface 342 ofthe induction sliding block 300, the tail 361 of the induction latch 360props up the movable spring piece 702, and the movable contact 703leaves the fixed conductor rod 704 and disconnects the power circuit, sothat the indicating apparatus 706 outputs and keeps the second statesignal. At this time, the main sliding block 204 moves from the lockedposition thereof to the released position, the induction sliding block300 is at the open position, and the door lock 100 is in the open state(the state shown in FIG. 8A).

It should be noted that the locked position and the released positionare in terms of the main sliding block 204; the open position and theclosed position are in terms of the induction sliding block 300; and theopen state and the closed state are in terms of the door lock 100.

FIG. 9 is an embodiment of an indicating circuit 706 shown in FIG. 7Aand FIG. 7B, to show the structure details of the indicating circuit706. As shown in FIG. 9, the indicating circuit 706 includes a flip-flopcircuit 902, an input resistor 904 and a sampling resistor 905. A signalsampling input end 903 of the flip-flop circuit 902 is electricallyconnected to earth via the input resistor 904; and a signal input end903 of the flip-flop circuit 902 is also electrically connected with thefixed conductor rod 704 shown in FIG. 7 via the sampling resistor 905.When the movable contact 703 is connected to the fixed conductor rod704, a voltage signal is produced on the input resistor 904, so that theoutput end 708 of the flip-flop circuit 902 is set to a first statesignal (high level or low level); and when the movable contact 703 isnot connected to the fixed conductor rod 704, no voltage signal isproduced on the input resistor 904, and the output end 708 of theflip-flop circuit 902 is set to a second state signal (low level or highlevel) In FIG. 9, the choice of the input resistor 904 and the samplingresistor 905 should make the current passing through the two resistorssmall, so that the partial current in the two resistors will not affectthe work of the main circuit of the electric appliance.

A current door lock of an electric appliance is provided with a doorlock state indicating apparatus for indicating whether the door lock isin the locked state or in the open state; and the output of the doorlock state indicating apparatus is used for controlling the operation ofthe electric appliance (e.g. a washing machine). The current door lockof an electric appliance is also provided with a switching apparatus fordisconnecting the power supply when the door lock is in the open stateand for connecting the power supply when the door lock is in the closedstate. In order to achieve the above two functions, the current doorlock of an electric appliance adopts a sliding block and arrange a bevelon the sliding block, the bevel have positions of different heights attwo sides, and a driving latch is slidably arranged on the bevel of thesliding block. As such, the movement of the sliding block in thehorizontal direction can bring the driving latch to move up and down,and the up-down movement of the driving latch brings the contact to moveup and down, so that the movable contact and the stationary contact ofthe switching apparatus contact and separate to close or disconnect thepower supply of the electric appliance. At the same time, the statechange of the switching apparatus drives the door lock state indicatingapparatus to output a signal for indicating the door lock state. Someproblems exist in this structure: firstly, the vibration produced due tothe operation of the electric appliance will cause the sliding block toproduce slight vibration or small movement, the slight vibration orsmall movement produced by the sliding block will be accordinglydirectly transferred to the driving latch via the bevel to cause thedriving latch to vibrate up and down, while the up-down vibration of thedriving latch will lead to a semi-contact state of the movable contactand the stationary contact, and the output signal state of the door lockstate indicating apparatus will also be unstable; secondly, the speed ofusing the bevel on the sliding block to bring the driving latch to moveis related to the speed of a user opening the door, and therefore theprocess in which the switching apparatus moves from the open position tothe closed position may be continuous and relatively slow, and in thisprocess the semi-contact state of the movable contact and the stationarycontact easily appears, causing bad contact.

In the process in which the door lock 100 is from the open state to theclosed state shown in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D, the main sliding block 204moves from the released position to the locked position and brings theinduction sliding block 300 to move from the open position andinstantaneously jump to the closed position, the induction latch 360instantaneously jumps from the disconnected position to the closedposition, and the movable contact 703 is instantaneously connected tothe fixed conductor rod 704. Moreover, in this process, after the mainsliding block 204 moves for a certain distance, the elasticity of thespring 336 brings the induction sliding block 300 to instantaneouslyjump from the open position to the closed position, releasing theelastic potential energy of the spring 336. As shown in FIG. 8E to FIG.8G, in the process in which the door lock is from the closed state tothe open state, the main sliding block 204 first moves for a certaindistance and then pushes the induction sliding block 300 from the closedposition to the open position. That is to say, in the above-mentionedtwo processes, the preliminary movement of the main sliding block 204 isan idle movement and does not cause the change in the open position orclosed position of the induction sliding block 300. Therefore, in theprocess of the operation of the electric appliance, although thevibration or small movement produced by the operation of the electricappliance will cause small movement or shake of the main sliding block204, as the movement of the main sliding block 204 caused is just anidle movement, it will not cause the induction sliding block 300 tomove. Therefore, no matter whether the door lock 100 is in the closedstate or in the open state, although the vibration or small movementproduced by the operation of the electric appliance will cause smallmovement or shake of the main sliding block 204, the small movement orshake of the main sliding block 204 will not cause the induction slidingblock 300 to move. Therefore, in the process of the operation of theelectric appliance, the induction latch 360 can be steadily at theclosed position or the open position, and the phenomenon where badcontact is caused due to small movement or shake of the main slidingblock 204 will not appear.

Moreover, the process in which the induction sliding block 300 movesfrom the open position to the closed position is an instantaneousprocess, which causes the process in which the induction latch 360 movesfrom the disconnected position to the closed position to be aninstantaneous process, and will not cause the state of semi-linkage orbad contact when the movable contact and the stationary contact. Inaddition, the output state of the door lock state indicating apparatus706 will also be stable, and the output state will not be made unstabledue to the small shake of the main sliding block 204.

Although only some features of the present application are illustratedand described herein, a person skilled in the art may make variousimprovements and changes. Therefore, it should be understood that theappended claims are intended to cover all of the above-mentionedimprovements and changes that fall into the substantial spirit scope ofthe present application.

1. A door lock (100), characterized by comprising: a main sliding block(204), the main sliding block (204) being able to move to and frobetween a locked position and a released position along a firstdirection (length direction), and the main sliding block (204) beingable to lock the door lock (100) when at the locked position, and themain sliding block (204) being able to release the door lock (100) whenat the released position; and an induction sliding block (300), theinduction sliding block (300) being able to move to and fro between aclosed position and an open position along the first direction (lengthdirection) when the main sliding block (204) moves to and fro betweenthe locked position and the released position along the first direction(length direction), wherein the closed position and the open position ofthe induction sliding block (300) are used for indicating whether thedoor lock (100) is in a locked state or in a released state.
 2. The doorlock (100) as claimed in claim 1, characterized by further comprising:an indicating apparatus (706), the indicating apparatus (706) being ableto output an indicating signal according to the closed position and theopen position of the induction sliding block (300), and the indicatingsignal being used for indicating whether the door lock (100) is in thelocked state or in the released state.
 3. The door lock (100) as claimedin claim 2, characterized in that: the induction sliding block (300) isable to move to and fro between the closed position and the openposition along the first direction (length direction); the inductionsliding block (300) is able to move from the open position to the closedposition when the main sliding block (204) moves from the releasedposition to the locked position; and the induction sliding block (300)is able to move from the closed position to the open position when themain sliding block (204) moves from the locked position to the releasedposition
 4. The door lock (100) as claimed in claim 3, characterized byfurther comprising: an induction latch (360), the induction latch (360)being able to accordingly move to and fro along a second direction(up-down direction) when the induction sliding block (300) moves to andfro along the first direction (length direction), wherein the inductionlatch (360) is used for starting the indicating apparatus (706) so thatthe indicating apparatus (706) outputs the indicating signal.
 5. A doorlock (100), characterized by comprising: a main sliding block (204), themain sliding block (204) being able to move to and fro between a lockedposition and a released position along a first direction (lengthdirection), and the main sliding block (204) being able to lock the doorlock (100) when at the locked position, and the main sliding block beingable to release the door lock (100) when at the released position; aninduction sliding block (300), the induction sliding block (120) beingable to move to and fro along the first direction (length direction)when the main sliding block (204) moves to and fro between the lockedposition and the released position along the first direction (lengthdirection); an induction latch (360), the induction latch (360) beingable to move to and fro on an upper surface of the induction slidingblock (300), and the induction latch (360) being able to accordinglymove to and fro along a second direction (up-down direction) when theinduction sliding block (300) moves to and fro along the first direction(length direction); and a switching apparatus, the induction latch (360)being able to close or disconnect the switching apparatus.
 6. The doorlock (100) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: the inductionsliding block (300) is arranged at one side of the main sliding block(204), and the main sliding block (204) brings the induction slidingblock (300) to move from the closed position to the open position. 7.The door lock (100) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: a pusharm (502) is provided at one side of the main sliding block (204), andthe push arm (502) is able to bring the induction sliding block (300) tomove from the closed position to the open position.
 8. The door lock(100) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that: the door lock (100)further comprises a biasing apparatus (336), and the biasing apparatus(336) pushes the induction sliding block (300) to move from the openposition to the closed position.
 9. The door lock (100) as claimed inclaim 8, characterized in that: the biasing apparatus (336) is a spring.10. The door lock (100) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that:the induction sliding block (300) comprises a stepped part, and thestepped part comprises an upper step (303) and a lower step (304) thatare arranged by way of connection; a bearing surface (342) and a recess(328) are provided on the upper step (303), the bearing surface (342) isarranged at a distal end of the upper step (303), the bearing surface(342) is higher than the recess (328), a distal end of the recess (328)is connected to the bearing surface (342), and an induction slidingblock restoration part (327) is provided at an outer side face at aproximal end of the recess (328); an induction sliding block releasepart (323) is provided on an upper surface at a distal end of the lowerstep (304), a blocking surface (326) is provided at a proximal end ofthe lower step (304), and the blocking surface (326) is used forblocking the movement of the main sliding block (204) when the mainsliding block (204) moves from the locked position to the releasedposition; and an induction sliding block protrusion locking claw (355)extends out of an outer side face at the distal end of the lower step(304).
 11. The door lock (100) as claimed in claim 10, characterized inthat: the induction sliding block restoration part (327) comprises arestoration bevel (370), and the restoration bevel (370) tilts inward ina direction from the distal end of the upper step (303) to the proximalend; and the induction sliding block release part (323) comprises arotation bevel (324), and the rotation bevel (324) tilts outward in adirection from the proximal end of the lower step (304) to the distalend.
 12. The door lock (100) as claimed in claim 10, characterized byfurther comprising: a door lock box (110), the door lock box (110)comprising an induction sliding block sliding chute (402), and theinduction sliding block sliding chute (402) comprising an inside wall(414) and an outside wall (412); wherein a notch (422) is provided at adistal end of the inside wall (414) and used for accommodating theinduction sliding block protrusion locking claw (355), a blockingsurface (423) is provided at a distal end of the notch (422), and theblocking surface (423) is used for blocking the movement of theinduction sliding block (300) when the main sliding block (204) movesfrom the released position to the locked position along the firstdirection; and an induction sliding block recovery bevel (437) isprovided at a proximal end of the outside wall (412) and used forcooperating with the induction sliding block restoration part (327) torestore the induction sliding block (120).
 13. The door lock (100) asclaimed in claim 1, characterized in that: the induction sliding block(300) is arranged at one side of the main sliding block (204), and themain sliding block (204) brings the induction sliding block (300) tomove from the closed position to the open position.